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The images were taken down the next day after being reported by other cadets. The seven young men were not in uniform when the photos were taken, the Navy said.

Lt. Sean Brophy said Friday that the men were 'willing participants' in what was termed 'inappropriate behavior around campus and online'.

The commanding officer of the program, Capt. Scott Curtis (pictured) has apologized

'We take this issue very seriously and categorically do not condone this behavior - it has no place in our military or society, and it does not comport with our core values,' he said.

Brophy confirmed that 'appropriate administrative actions' were taken against the midshipmen, who remain part of the program.

He refused to give details, however, citing privacy laws.

The commanding officer of the program, Capt. Scott Curtis, notified the university's academic leaders - the dean of the college of liberal arts and the university provost - about the incident and apologized.

Curtis has also trained the entire 68-member battalion on proper social media behavior and reinforced Navy values, Brophy said.

He noted that the students were not in uniform in the photographs, and that they were not taken as part of any NROTC program event. An initiation ceremony for new members of the Glorious Order of the Sextant had occurred the night before.

The seven young men were not in uniform when the photos were taken, the Navy said (stock image of Iowa State University)

Michael Tallon, the president of the student group, said he wasn't involved but that he could not comment on the incident.

Curtis canceled an annual formal dinner Friday in light of the publicity, according to CBS News.

The incident comes as the military faces pressure to do more to stop inappropriate online activity following a scandal in which Marines shared nude photos of female service members on social media.

The Navy and the Marine Corps told a congressional panel last month they are considering new ways to punish such activity.